The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 2 eBook

SECTION CCXIX

“Markandeya continued, ’He (Uktha)
performed a severe penance lasting for many years,
with the view of having a pious son equal unto Brahma
in reputation. And when the invocation was made
with the vyahriti hymns and with the aid of
the five sacred fires, Kasyapa, Vasistha, Prana,
the son of Prana, Chyavana, the son of Angiras,
and Suvarchaka—­there arose a very
bright energy (force) full of the animating (creative)
principle, and of five different colours. Its
head was of the colour of the blazing fire, its arms
were bright like the sun and its skin and eyes were
golden-coloured and its feet, O Bharata, were black.
Its five colours were given to it by those five men
by reason of their great penance. This celestial
being is therefore described as appertaining to five
men, and he is the progenitor of five tribes.
After having performed a penance for ten thousand
years, that being of great ascetic merit produced
the terrible fire appertaining to the Pitris
(manes) in order to begin the work of creation, and
from his head and mouth respectively he created Vrihat
and Rathantara (day and night) who quickly steal away
(life, &c.). He also created Siva from his navel,
Indra from his might and wind and fire from his soul,
and from his two arms sprang the hymns Udatta
and Anudatta. He also produced the mind,
and the five senses, and other creatures. Having
created these, he produced the five sons of the Pitris.
Of these Pranidhi was the son of Vrihadratha.
Vrihadratha was the son of Kasyapa. Bhanu was
the godson of Chyavana, Saurabha, the son of Suvarchaka,
and Anudatta, the son of Prana. These twenty-five
beings are reputed (to have been created by him).
Tapa also created fifteen other gods who obstruct
sacrifices[28]. They are Subhima, Bhima, Atibhima,
Bhimavala, Avala, Sumitra, Mitravana, Mitasina, Mitravardhana
and Mitradharaman,[29] and Surapravira, Vira, Suveka,
Suravarchas and Surahantri. These gods are divided
into three classes of five each. Located here
in this world, they destroy the sacrifices of the
gods in heaven; they frustrate their objects and spoil
their oblations of clarified butter. They do this
only to spite the sacred fires carrying oblations
to the gods. If the officiating priests are careful,
they place the oblations in their honour outside of
the sacrificial altar. To that particular place
where the sacred fire may be placed, they cannot go.
They carry the oblation of their votaries by means
of wings. When appeased by hymns, they do not
frustrate the sacrificial rites. Vrihaduktha,
another son of Tapa, belongs to the Earth. He
is worshipped here in this world by pious men performing
Agnihotra sacrifices. Of the son of Tapa
who is known as Rathantara, it is said by officiating
priests that the sacrificial oblation offered in his
honour is offered to Mitravinda. The celebrated
Tapa was thus very happy with his sons.’”